Friday, November 16, 2012

It feels in NYC anyway that fall is on its way out. Winter and the holidays are about to swoop in.
My day to day routine is changing with it. I've been taking long walks around the neighborhood. The snow storm we had last week finally brought out some fall colors here.

Thursday, November 15, 2012

I'm also participating in NaNo this month. My book is about some of my experiences acting and I wrote this little essay about my favorite moment of The Fall Festival. Part of NaNo is not going back to edit..so please forgive my grammar! It is a work in progress.

If you are in the Berkshires this weekend, Go out and support!

The Fall Festival

I thought I would write about
something amazing. The Fall festival of Shakespeare in Lenox, Ma. My old high
school stomping ground. Ten high schools do a Shakespeare play. They perform
them at their high schools and then they perform them all over one weekend in a
marathon! It is non competitive and is a
weekend of celebration. I did this all four years of high school. It taught be
how to act, about Shakespeare and about my own humanity.

My senior year I played Julia in
Two Gentleman of Verona. We did an In-school performance the Friday of the
first weekend. In my first scene, Julia
is gossiping with her nursemaid Lucetta. “Of all the men that everyday
encounter me, which is the worthiest love?” They then name names and discuss
each option. The director had told me to point out men in the audience for each
name.

The first time we performed for an
audience it was at an “in-school” performance. This is always painful because
teenagers are generally too cool to laugh and be supportive. They are also
being forced to watch this play; it is not their own choosing. When I got out
on stage I was secretly scouting for the right guys to pick out. I picked out
my math teacher, a jock and my gay boyfriend. No one laughed. No one laughed
for the rest of the play. Over the course of the weekend, our parents and
friends gently laughed and chuckled. That made me feel a little bit better. And
less like a complete loser actor.

When it came time to perform the
next weekend at the festival, I was very sad that this was my last year. I
wanted to get out of high school and get out of my hometown. But the fall
festival was very hard to leave behind. I remember saying this to the costume
designer. She said, “Bigger and Better things await you!” If only she knew
about Off-Off Broadway.

I was so sad and nervous, but also
very excited to perform. I went out onstage. When the time came I pointed out
another teen in the front row and the entire theater erupted in laughter. It
actual took me a back, which made them laugh even more. That was probably the
greatest theater moment of my life. I felt like I was amazing. That is the
amazing things about the festival. Actors, directors and crew behind the scenes
all come together to support one another. I knew that all these people had my
back. That they knew what I was saying and they were ready to laugh.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Happy Halloween! I'm hoping everyone is doing well after Hurricane Sandy and enjoying some candy. Please have a safe Halloween if you are going out tonight.

We are keeping it very low key tonight. I may abandon my Ghost Whisperer costume for June Carter...to pair up with Johnny Cash.

I think looking at Pinterest all day last Friday really payed off. I am the least creative and skilled person when it comes to carving pumpkins. I've been joking about Glitter Pumpkins all month now and when I sat down I had a bit of a creative flow. So... I made a pirate pumpkin! Didn't really think through that no one would see the patch in the dark, but I really love how it turned out!

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

I wanted to let you all know that we are doing fine. Sunnyside has had some fallen trees but everyone seems to be doing well in the neighborhood. No loss of power and we are staying cozy in doors. We took a walk this morning with our friend to check on our car. These are a few pictures we took.

I hope you and you're family are all safe and doing well. Hope my Manhattan friends are safe! Thinking of you all.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

I'm currently rehearsing the role of Rebecca in "Our Town." It is such a fun role and I'm working with such a wonderful company! I've loved this play since reading it in high school. The play has a great blog, where we are posting pictures and tidbits from rehearsal. Each actor has answered a few questions and mine is still to come!